State-ranked Highlanders face another tough test at Humble tonight

Mike Jones

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 20, 2001

In what longtime head coach Weldon Willig called "one of the better days in Highlander football history," The Woodlands came from behind and pulled out a victory in the final seconds last Saturday in the Reliant Astrodome against state-ranked Duncanville.

The Highlanders, 2-0, who had opened the season with a 21-3 victory over a solid Kingwood team, trailed the Panthers 10-9 last week when a drive that began deep in their own territory concluded with a John Helander field goal with five seconds remaining to give TWHS and their fans the 12-10 victory.

With the win, TWHS remains state-ranked. Depending on the poll you follow, the Highlanders are anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8 in the state, and one publication has the team ranked No. 18 in the nation, ahead of every other Texas school in the poll.

"I asked the kids the other day what rankings meant," said Willig. "It's not such a big deal for them. We've said all along that when the rankings came out, that they're irrelevant. That it's where you wind up at the end of the season.

"I don't really think the rankings have bothered them that much, or put that kind of pressure on them at this point in time. They take it in stride and are looking forward to making sure we keep improving."

That continued improvement was shown in last week's game, with another dominant defensive effort and a second straight week in which the offense, defense and special teams all netted points.

"I think it was just one of the better days in Highlander football history," said Willig. "With the fact of the venue of the game, playing in one of the most famous stadiums in the country, with the caliber of play of both teams, and the atmosphere. Just to get back to normal after all the things that went on last week (in the nation). If you drive 93 yards in the final two minutes of the game to put up the winning score, it makes it one of those feel-good games. You felt so good after you left the game. It was one of those classic highs from a game."

In that final drive, quarterback Ben Barton bounced back from a sack in the final 20 seconds at the 32 to deliver a pass down to the one on the next play to clutch receiver Danny Amendola. Then, with just nine ticks left, Helander calmly entered the game and nailed the 18-yard field goal to give the Highlanders the win.

"Hopefully all of that will inspire us a little bit to play with a little more confidence," said Willig. "I was just so proud of the way we performed. It was the way that you draw it up and tell them the way we're going to do it. You just tell them to keep playing hard and that we're going to get it done."

There were many standouts for the Highlanders.

"The two you have to start with are (defensive end) Travis Leitko and Ben Barton," said Willig. "With just the performances they put in. And then there were plenty of names to add to it. Like John Helander and (punter) Tim LeBlanc. They have had plays that you don't win the game without them. And there were lots of other kids. All four in the secondary, Jared Micho, Cole Schrier, Adam Rayford and Casey Nichols, played really well. And Daniel Evans on special teams. He made a big play downing the ball at the one that led to the safety."

The second-half safety, on a tackle by Leitko, Kyle Simpson and Dereck Nacalaban, pulled TWHS within 10-9, setting the stage for the late heroics.

Leitko, who earned the Montgomery County High School Football Defensive Player of the Week honor for his performance, had eight tackles, the assist on the safety, a blocked field goal and two pass knockdowns.

"And he was instrumental in causing the other team's quarterback to leave the game for the second straight week," said Willig. "It was a classic picture The Courier ran (on Sunday of Leitko and the sacked Duncanville QB). It was like some predator rising above his prey."

One downer for the Highlanders coming out of the game is that senior standout receiver David Strain, who made two big plays in the contest, broke his leg and his out for the season.

Now, the Highlanders will take on a 2-0 Humble team that is ranked No. 8 in the Houston area (TWHS is No. 3). The Wildcats are coming off an emotional 12-0 win over defending state champion Katy.

"What a big win for them," said Willig. "Just like it was a great win for our program (over Duncanville), it was much the same for them. To beat the defending state champion and to shut them out. I've told people since I've seen the video of them that this may be the toughest team we've played to date. I have every reason to believe they're every bit as good and in many ways better than Kingwood or Duncanville. They're doing so many things well right now.

"It will be a huge challenge for us coming off a big win. They're another highly ranked opponent. If you've looked at the Harris poll the first three weeks, it lists the top three or four games of the week, and we've been on the list every week. We've played some very tough opponents."

Willig would like to see the Highlanders begin to put more points on the board with the 15-5A opener looming next week.

"We're playing great defense," he said. "We still want to put more points on the board. We missed two scoring opportunities in the first half the other day. We had a penalty on one and didn't execute the other time. We have to make sure we score when we have the opportunity. We need as many points as we can against Humble."